How To Treat Bad Eczema On Hands – Clare Wightman MS, PAC, Dermatology, Medical Reviewed by Medical Research – Written by Christina Ivarone – Updated January 16, 2024
Hand eczema, or hand dermatitis, is an inflammation of the skin. Swelling, itching, and scaly, discolored spots appear on the fingers and hands. The skin may crack and form blisters, which can be painful.
How To Treat Bad Eczema On Hands
Hand eczema is very common. This disease affects about 10% of people in the United States and can develop at any age. It can be acute, lasting only a short time, or chronic, lasting throughout a person’s life.
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Hand eczema is more common in people with a history of atopic eczema and in people who have frequent contact with water and chemicals. This may include, for example, hairdressers, cleaners, chefs and hygienists.
Hand eczema is not contagious, which means it does not spread from person to person. It can interfere with daily activities and make you feel embarrassed. Stress and exposure to external irritants and allergens can cause or worsen it.
Read on to learn more about the causes and symptoms of hand eczema and when to see a doctor. We also look at prevention tips and treatment options.
Symptoms can vary from person to person, depending on their age, medical history, and various lifestyle factors. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) states that dry, cracked skin is often the first symptom that leads to a diagnosis.
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The word “eczema” refers to a group of skin conditions that cause inflammation, itching and burning of the skin. This is usually caused by an overactive immune system. When something causes the immune system to overreact, rashes appear.
People with eczema may be more susceptible to skin infections such as warts, athlete’s foot, and infections caused by herpes. Scientists indicate that this happens because the body does not contain enough filaggrin, a protein that maintains the skin’s protective barrier.
The cause of eczema is unknown. Scientists believe that genetic and environmental factors play a role. Below we examine some of the factors that can trigger or worsen hand eczema.
People whose jobs require constant contact with water, solvents, detergents, other chemicals, heat, cold, or friction are more likely to develop eczema on their hands. For example, it is most common among health care workers, hairdressers, janitors, construction workers, chefs, and people who work in manufacturing.
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According to the AAD, frequently washing and drying your hands can increase your risk of developing hand eczema.
Even when a person dries his hands, some water remains on the skin. When it evaporates, it reduces the amount of natural oils in the skin. Constant washing with hot water can deplete the levels of these oils and lead to eczema. Instead, one should opt for lukewarm water.
When a person experiences stress, the body produces two hormones called cortisol and epinephrine. These substances weaken the immune system and cause skin inflammation.
Sometimes, high levels of stress may trigger dyshidrotic eczema. This is a common form of eczema that causes itchy blisters on the skin.
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Dry air and sudden temperature changes in winter can dry out the skin and trigger eczema flare-ups. This happens, for example, when people move from a cold room to a warm room and do not remove their layers. The air from radiators can make your skin drier.
There is no cure for chronic hand eczema, and symptoms can be painful and painful. Sometimes the rash disappears after weeks.
A key starting step is to identify and avoid triggers or allergens. Your healthcare professional can perform a patch test to help identify these triggers.
For children, it’s important to help manage eczema and keep their skin hydrated all year long.
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If hand eczema symptoms are difficult to control, see your doctor. If your current treatment plan isn’t effective, your doctor may recommend other methods.
Eczema is an inflammatory skin disease that can develop at any age. It can cause itchy blisters, rashes, cracking and swelling on the hands and elsewhere.
It’s not contagious. Although there is no cure, medications and natural remedies can help reduce inflammation and treat or prevent the infection and its worsening. A dermatologist or other doctor can recommend a treatment plan.
Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and sources only peer-reviewed research, academic research institutions, journals and medical societies. We will avoid using higher education references. We link to primary sources including research, scientific references, and statistics in each article, and we also list them in the Sources section at the bottom of our article. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and up-to-date in our editorial policies. Although there is no cure for eczema, there are several things you can do to reduce and better manage the itching.
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Depending on the outside temperature, apply as soft a moisturizer as possible to your skin after getting out of the bath. Emulsifying ointments can be mixed with different amounts of water available at the pharmacy.
The treatment should be used (usually twice a day) until the active dermatitis has completely disappeared. It also reduces the chance of bounce.
Medical researchers continue to search for new treatments that provide relief from the overwhelming experience. Remember to ask your dermatologist about possible options available to you and seek advice from Eczema Support Australia. Eczema Support Australia strives to help people with eczema overcome difficulties and thrive in their communities.
Contact dermatitis may be more common in occupations with frequent contact with water and chemicals. Such as hairdressers, cleaners, health workers and hospitality workers.
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Women are more likely than men to suffer from another form of hand eczema called pompholyx or dyshidrotic eczema. It causes small itchy blisters to appear on the hands and fingers.
When eczema affects the face, it can have a significant impact on your quality of life due to the sensitivity of this area of skin and blurred vision.
In infants, eczema often affects the folds of the cheeks and neck. Children can develop eczema on the face, including the eyelids. Adults with facial eczema may develop contact dermatitis.
Facial eczema is not always caused by atopic dermatitis or contact dermatitis. Facial eczema in adults can be another form of eczema – seborrheic dermatitis. This can cause dry skin around the ears, eyebrows, eyelids, or ear canal. It can also cause dandruff on the scalp.
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Eczema is a chronic, complex skin disease characterized by itching. But it’s not just a skin disease. For people with eczema, symptoms can range from mild to moderate itching to severe, painful and debilitating itching, with a significant impact on quality of life. There are different types of eczema, the most common of which is atopic eczema.
Eczema symptoms can vary from person to person and may look different than you think. It is important to get a proper diagnosis. It can look very different in infants/children and adults. The most common symptoms include:
Eczema is not contagious. The myth that eczema is hereditary and contagious is a serious concern. People with eczema need empathy and compassion and should realize that there is no way they can contract the disease by coming into contact with someone who has it.
Eczema can be affected by genetic factors (runs in families) and/or environmental factors (external factors). It is an autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation and itching. People with eczema also suffer from damage to the skin barrier. The skin is less able to protect people from irritation and allergies.
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There is no “cure” for eczema, and it is important to be aware of the triggers and avoid them, as well as control the symptoms. Many people hope for “the one thing” that will treat their eczema or prevent it from coming back. Because eczema is a chronic and very complex condition that can vary from patient to patient, we rarely have a “one thing” answer.
However, new and promising treatment options are emerging. Talk to your healthcare professional about your options.
While some children develop eczema as they get older, others will have the condition for life, and the goal is to prevent flare-ups and control symptoms when they do occur.
Topical steroids, or topical corticosteroids, are very safe and effective for all ages, even in children under 1 year old when used as directed by your doctor. Topical steroids and other topical treatments are the mainstay of treatment for eczema flare-ups. When used correctly, they will improve the quality of life.
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Whitening baths for eczema, as described in our fact sheet, are safe when used as directed by your doctor.
A bleach bath recipe for eczema contains approximately the same concentration as a chlorine bath. For eczema flare-ups in children and adults, the cause is often high levels of harmful bacteria on the skin, especially Staphylococcus aureus, which contribute to itching and inflammation. Bleach baths for eczema are a safe way to combat this bacteria and are an effective treatment when combined with other eczema treatments as directed by your doctor.
There is a relationship between eczema and food allergies, but not to:
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